CALIFORNIA POLICY BRIEF The Building Blocks of High-Quality Early Childhood Education Programs By Marjorie Wechsler, Hanna Melnick, Anna Maier, and Joseph Bishop When it comes to early childhood education programs, quality is Abstract critical. High-quality preschool gives children a strong start on the This brief identifies important path that leads to college or a career. Research shows that all children elements of high-quality early benefit from high-quality preschool, with low-income children and childhood education programs as 1 indicated by research and professional English learners benefiting the most. A substantial number of studies standards. These include: demonstrate the benefits of high-quality pre-k programs. These include • Early learning standards and long-term research on Perry Preschool, the Abecedarian Project, and curricula that address the whole the Chicago Child-Parent Centers, as well as ongoing studies of the child, are developmentally appropriate, and are effectively preschool programs in Tulsa and Boston and New Jersey’s Abbott implemented. Preschool Program, among others. Economists also have shown the • Assessments that consider children’s benefits of early education investments, which generate approximately academic, social-emotional, and physical progress and contribute to $7 for every dollar invested.2 However, the potential of preschool can instructional and program planning. only be realized if programs are of high quality. • Well-prepared teachers who provide engaging interactions and classroom This brief summarizes the substantial body of research on environments that support learning. programs demonstrating positive results, as well as the • Ongoing support for teachers, including coaching and mentoring. professional standards for early education, identifying important • Support for English learners and elements of quality. It focuses on factors that contribute to students with special needs. meaningful teacher-child interactions. These findings hold • Meaningful family engagement. particular interest to California. Of the state’s one million • Sufficient learning time. preschool-aged children, 493,877 live in or near poverty.3 Low- • Small class sizes with low student- teacher ratios. income children are most likely to benefit from high-quality pre-k, • Program assessments that measure pointing to the need for California to improve the overall quality of structural quality and classroom its early learning system.4 interactions. • A well-implemented state quality rating and improvement system. The Building Blocks of Quality These high-quality building blocks should be at the forefront in revising Comprehensive early learning standards and curricula California’s early childhood education High-quality programs have curricula that are based on system. comprehensive early learning standards, address the whole child, are developmentally appropriate, and are effectively External reviewers implemented. According to professional standards, high-quality pre-k programs are This brief benefited from the insights and expertise of two external based on early learning standards that address multiple domains of reviewers: David Kirp, the James D. development—academic, social-emotional, and physical—to ensure Marver Professor of Public Policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy, children are growing in all the ways that enable them to be healthy and University of California at Berkeley; ready for school.5 They also implement developmentally appropriate and Scott Moore, Executive Director of Kidango. We thank them for the care curricula, which emphasize guided learning opportunities that are and attention they gave the report. Any remaining shortcomings are our own. LEARNING POLICY INSTITUTE | CALIFORNIA POLICY BRIEF 1 language-rich and hands-on.6 Research finds that students who are engaged with content in deep ways while developing conceptual understanding are better able to develop skills in specific areas, such as math or language development.7 However, a curriculum must be well implemented if it is to be effective. Strong preservice teacher preparation and in-class coaching for teachers increase the likelihood that curricula will be used effectively.8 Appropriate child assessments High-quality early childhood education programs assess the whole child. The National Research Council endorses the importance of using well-planned and effective assessments of children in early learning classrooms in order to improve instruction and program planning. These assessments should encompass the whole child—academic, social-emotional, and physical—and should be part of a coherent system of educational, medical, and family support services.9 For example, many states have adopted the research-backed Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment, which prompts teachers to collect observational data ranging from children’s physical and social-emotional development to their literacy and math skills.10 These data can be used to track children’s progress over time and plan instruction tailored to students’ strengths and needs. Professional knowledge and skill Strong programs ensure that staff know how to support children’s learning and development. Nearly all programs with a track record of success, including the public preschool programs in Tulsa, Boston, New Jersey, and Michigan, require their lead teachers, who not only instruct children but manage the classroom, to have a bachelor’s degree with a specialization in early childhood education.11 Studies have found that teachers’ specialized knowledge about child development and instruction for young children is particularly important.12 Both the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council recommend that states align qualifications for educators of children from birth to age eight, with all lead teachers having a bachelor’s degree and specialization in early childhood.13 Well-prepared teachers have the knowledge and skills to provide engaging interactions and classroom environments to support children’s learning. A strong teacher preparation pipeline can help ensure a sufficient supply of qualified teachers. When New Jersey expanded its preschool program, for example, it created multiple pathways to licensure, including more teacher preparation programs, a post-baccalaureate degree for teachers with bachelor’s degrees in other fields, and scholarships for current early educators to gain greater knowledge and skill. California employed a similar strategy when Head Start teacher qualifications were raised and was able to maintain a diverse workforce.14 Retaining high-quality staff is also important, and increasing compensation for early learning providers can reduce turnover, as well as attract high-quality candidates. Teacher turnover in early education is high, with low compensation a primary factor in teachers’ decisions to leave.15 Ongoing support for teachers Coaching and mentoring can improve teaching quality. Strong early education systems support teachers throughout their career by providing coaching and mentoring. While research is in the early stages, coaching appears to be linked to improved student-teacher interactions, less teacher burnout, and increased teacher retention in the field.16 One study in Washington State, for instance, showed that programs that offered coaching had significantly lower teacher turnover, as well as higher quality ratings.17 Coaching is integral to many programs that show strong results. For example, both Boston’s and Michigan’s demonstrably effective public preschool programs employ county- or district- based coaches who work one-on-one with teachers and with entire staffs. LEARNING POLICY INSTITUTE | CALIFORNIA POLICY BRIEF 2 Support for Diverse Learners High-quality early learning programs meet the needs of all students, including English learners and students with special needs. Research is clear that preschool has positive academic effects for English learners, who make academic gains equal to or greater than those of other preschoolers.18 Native Spanish speakers who participated in Tulsa’s preschool program or Head Start, for instance, progressed more in their language development by the end of kindergarten than non-English learners.19 One way to accelerate English learners’ development may be to provide some instruction in their home language. A study of pre-k programs in 11 states showed that native Spanish speakers’ reading and math scores improved more when they received more instruction in their native language, particularly when their teacher was caring and supportive.20 Many long-term studies show that preschool can reduce the likelihood that a student will need to participate in costly special education programs.21 Emerging evidence also suggests that preschool may have particularly positive effects for students who have already been identified as having special needs. For example, a large study showed that three-year-olds with special needs who enrolled in Head Start had reduced inattentive behavior, fewer learning problems, and better teacher-child relationships by first grade than similar non-participants.22 There is some evidence that inclusion programs, in which students with special needs learn alongside their peers, benefit students more than programs that pull them out of the classroom.23 Meaningful family engagement High-quality programs engage families in meaningful ways. Positive family-program connections have been linked to greater academic motivation, grade promotion, and socio-emotional skills